September 26, 2017: New release from Mario Pavone and his Dialect Trio – Chrome

On September 26th, Playscape Recordings will release Chrome (PSR #060316), featuring veteran bassist/composer Mario Pavone along with his Dialect Trio, comprised of Pavone, pianist Matt Mitchell and drummer Tyshawn Sorey. This latest CD is Pavone's eleventh release as a leader on the Playscape Recordings label.

Since this trio's last collaboration in 2015, Pavone, Mitchell and Sorey have had several opportunities to perform, which Pavone cites as the main catalyst for Chrome. Pavone writes, "I composed this music in the winter of 2016 with the intention of building on the success of our past collaborations. As a result I was inspired to compose material that would further evolve, coalesce and ignite this grouping of musicians. Matt and Tyshawn's pairing is fresh and they both bring a great deal to my music. They are able to articulate the thorny logic of my compositions while at the same time pushing them forward, putting their stamp on them."

As a leader, Pavone’s previous releases on the Playscape Recordings label include Street Songs, Arc Trio, Arc Suite T/PI T/PO and Ancestors, among others, and he has appeared on four recordings under the leadership of such longtime label-mates as Michael Musillami and the late Thomas Chapin. Overall, for more than four decades Pavone has worked extensively as a performer, recording as a leader and co-leader with a long resume that includes playing alongside jazz heavyweights such as Bill Dixon, Tony Malaby and Paul Bley.

"Vertigo is certainly a danger when trying to keep up with the entirety of the trio's veering twists and turns. It's also an exhilarating enterprise as these three players aren't all that amenable to cutting corners in the interest of easy listener ingress."
-Derek Taylor, Dusted Magazine

"Pavone's strength seems to be his knack for assembling sympathetic groups that just seem to blend together to create challenging and engaging music. It is scary to think what this band would sound like if they played together every night.'
-Mark Corroto, All About Jazz

On October 31st, Playscape Recordings will release Bird Calls (PSR#061517), a duo recording of the music of Charles Mingus by veteran guitarist/composer Michael Musillami and master bassist and co-leader Rich Syracuse, a long-time member of the late baritone saxophonist Nick Brignola’s Quartet. Bird Calls is Musillami’s second recording with bassist Syracuse, following their 2016 collaboration Of the Night, recordings from the Wayne Shorter songbook, also released on the Playscape Recordings label.

In their early years, both Musillami and Syracuse recall the introduction of the music of Charles Mingus as a heavy influence in how they framed jazz music going forward. Writes Musillami, “For as long as I can remember I've always referred to Mingus' writing and arranging style as a guidepost for what I can possibly add or imply in my compositions.” Syracuse adds, “Even at the young age of eight years old I heard the seriousness, the swinging, the improvisation and the brilliance of Charles Mingus. This album is not a tribute to Charles Mingus as much as it's an exploration of his music.”

“In general, we approached much of this set with an open mind - not trying to recreate what Mingus did, but use the elements in his music, melody, harmony, and rhythmic figures to create something that is our personal statement.” - Michael Musillami

Bird Calls was recorded by master engineer Nick Lloyd at Firehouse 12 in New Haven, Connecticut.